Impact of mandatory resident work hour limitations on medical students' interest in surgery

The number of US medical students applying for general surgery residency has been declining. Recent studies have shown that the issue of "controllable lifestyle" has become a critical factor in medical students' decision-making process. We postulate that widespread implementation of resident work hour limitations would bolster medical students' interest in pursuing surgical careers.

Students from New York University School of Medicine were surveyed about their attitudes toward work hour limitations and its effect on their interest in pursuing a surgical residency. One hundred thirty-two students participated.

Nearly 95% of respondents believed that work hour limitations were a positive change and, if all other factors were equal, they would choose a training program that used work hour limitations over one that did not. The most common reasons cited in favor of limits were improvements in resident lifestyle (42%) and patient safety (34%). Fifty-three percent of respondents indicated that presence of work hour limitations alone would increase their interest in considering a surgical residency and only 2% of medical students indicated that it would lessen their interest in surgery. Not surprisingly, intellectual interest in a specialty was the most important factor in choosing a residency for 86% of students. Nevertheless, work hour limitations were designated a higher priority than future salary by 55% of medical students.

The presence of work hour limitations has a positive impact on medical students' interest in surgery. Widespread implementation of work hour limitations may bolster the number of applications for surgical residency.